When you don't know how to sharpen 101

[zuludog]

15 minutes ago, Dunluce said:

Anyone ever tried one of these for skiving knives?

http://www.hewitonline.com/Arrotino_English_Paring_Knife_Sharpening_Guide_p/tl-073-pn.htm

The illustration isn't very clear, but it shows a knife with an angled cutting edge, rather like a kiridashi

The same company has a 'French skiving knife' and a cheaper 'French style skiving knife' which is the sort of thing Dun should be aiming for with his plane blade

Have a look at this video. She shows a few variations

'Skiving Knives and Skiving' by Lisa Sorrel

Edited January 28, 2018 by zuludog

[Dun]

1 hour ago, zuludog said:

I've just realised something. Why are you skiving from the grain side? Yes, you can do this when there is a particular need, but most skiving is done on the flesh side...

It helps if you dampen the leather slightly, though this might not have much effect on the grain side of chrome tanned leather...

For Micromesh have a look at this video. Although it's about edge bevellers it shows the sharpness that can be achieved

'How to Sharpen a Bevel Edger' by LB Custom knives

I don't understand; if you've tried lots of stones & methods, why can't you get a sharp edge?

I'm skiving the grain side so that when I laminate it, the chrome tanned edge will be so thin and sandwiched between 2 layers of veg tan and hopefully hand burnish that way.

I'll check out the video later thanks.

I can sometimes get a sharp edge but not consistently down the edge of the blade. Or I think I change the angle in the wrong way. Or I've been at the wrong angle the whole time. I guess the one thing I haven't tried are those rod rigs that control the angle for me, but at that point I figured this sharpener I already own can do that.

I have never seen anyone say why a single or double edged blade for skiving. Every person I have asked, or both styles, has just said personal preference. And yes I have been using this blade to cut out the leather as well. 

[Dun]

1 hour ago, Dunluce said:

Anyone ever tried one of these for skiving knives?

http://www.hewitonline.com/Arrotino_English_Paring_Knife_Sharpening_Guide_p/tl-073-pn.htm

Something like that would be the next purchase I should try. It's the whole getting the right angle by hand that has escaped me all these years

[bikermutt07]

I still struggle sometimes with an unevenly sharpened edge. You just have to keep at it. 

As far as skiving goes, most knives I have seen are single edged. But I have seen them turned either way in the videos.

Maybe a super skiver would be best for now.

Oh and after that long post this morning I forgot to mention this....

The title really is a great description for the book. He has all kinds of little tricks he shares in this.

[Dun]

29 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

I still struggle sometimes with an unevenly sharpened edge. You just have to keep at it. 

As far as skiving goes, most knives I have seen are single edged. But I have seen them turned either way in the videos.

Maybe a super skiver would be best for now.

Oh and after that long post this morning I forgot to mention this....

The title really is a great description for the book. He has all kinds of little tricks he shares in this.

The super skiver is great for veg tan straps and such but this pigskin haaaaates it. 

I've seen a lot of single edged too bit also many a double edged round head knives used for skiving, with amazing results. Please believe me, I love to understand "why" one thing is better than another in specific cases. I just haven't seen an explanation actually given?

I've liked all the other stohlman books so far I'll have to see about that one. Unfortunately if it's just about tools I don't own yet it will only be for future knowledge uses.

[bikermutt07]

35 minutes ago, Dun said:

The super skiver is great for veg tan straps and such but this pigskin haaaaates it. 

I've seen a lot of single edged too bit also many a double edged round head knives used for skiving, with amazing results. Please believe me, I love to understand "why" one thing is better than another in specific cases. I just haven't seen an explanation actually given?

I've liked all the other stohlman books so far I'll have to see about that one. Unfortunately if it's just about tools I don't own yet it will only be for future knowledge uses.

He has stuff in there for even making a few tools. The book is less than 20 bucks. 

I'm not sure I would count my headknife in the double side category. That thing is super thin. I think the blade might be a 1\16 and tapers way back on a convex edge. I have had it over a year and have only had to strop it.

[Dun]

I finally got to watch the videos while I sand paper sharpened tonight. I'd actually already seen micro mesh beveler one before as well as other chisel sharpening vids. I didn't know all the names for skiving moves yet though.

After re sharpening on sand paper and stropping it still wasn't sharp enough. I went back to the ceramic honing rod. Arm hair all over my work station now but still my actual skill in skiving is non existant.

[bikermutt07]

Have you tried stropping the skiver blades? I strop everything, even the tiny strap cutter blades. It makes a difference. 

I haven't done much skiving myself.

When I think back, it did take awhile for me to gain consistency with sharpening.

Don't give up. Keep trying. Sharp tools make all the difference.

[Dun]

On 1/29/2018 at 3:16 AM, bikermutt07 said:

Have you tried stropping the skiver blades? I strop everything, even the tiny strap cutter blades. It makes a difference. 

 

I was giving this a try and how do you hold the tiny strap cutter blades for stropping? just pinch them?

[bikermutt07]

1 hour ago, Dun said:

I was giving this a try and how do you hold the tiny strap cutter blades for stropping? just pinch them?

Yes, or you could use needle nose pliers.

Your angle doesn't have to be so precise for stropping, especially for a disposable blade.